Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Fast Track Entry
- 1–2 hours
- Skip the line
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
The museum building used to be the grand vizier Ibrahim Pasa's house, a gift from Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Over 40,000 artifacts from early Islamic empires (like the Umayyads and Abbasids) through to the Seljuks and Ottomans are displayed in the museum. Quick Tip: Don't forget to go to the museum's second floor terrace cafe for amazing viewpoints of the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square.
Inclusions
What's included
- Fast Track Entry
- All day valid - ticket
What's not
- Food and Drink
- Transportation to/from the museum
Itinerary
Right in the heart of Sultanahmet Square—literally directly across the street from the famous Blue Mosque—sits the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum (Türk ve İslam Eserleri Müzesi). It is one of Istanbul’s absolute best-kept secrets, often bypassed by tourists rushing between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, which is a massive missed opportunity. If you want to understand the artistic soul, history, and diverse cultures of the Islamic world and the nomadic roots of Turkey, this is the place to be. international art historians simply referred to this place as the "Carpet Museum." It holds what is widely considered the richest and finest collection of hand-woven carpets in the world. You will find breathtakingly massive rugs hanging from the high palace ceilings, including ultra-rare, geometric Seljuk carpets dating back to the 13th century, alongside legendary Anatolian Uşak designs.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Istanbul
- Its from-price is 34% below the median of the 118 attraction tickets we list in Istanbul.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Istanbul
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, with Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, busy bazaars and ferries crossing between continents.
The historic peninsula holds the greatest landmarks. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome face each other in Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern lies beneath the streets, and Topkapı Palace spreads across the hill above the Golden Horn. A short walk away, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar have traded for centuries, and Süleymaniye Mosque, built by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, crowns one of the city's seven hills.
Top-ranked sights in Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi), Bosphorus, Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu).
Special offers in Istanbul
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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